So What's Better, Really?

[Rabbi Yaakov would say]: 'A single moment of repentance and good deeds in this world is greater than all of the World to Come. And a single moment of bliss in the World to Come is greater than all of the present world.'
[Ethics of our Fathers, Ch. 4:17]
~~~
Wouldn't it be cool to know the mystical, inner meaning behind the various Mitzvot (Commandments) we Jews do? Well, Rebbe Menachem Mendel, also known as the Tzemach Tzedek (1789-1866), sure thought so. So he decided to write a book entitled "Derech Mitzvotecha"-"The Way of Your Commandments," expounding on many of these inner meanings.

The 1st Mitzvah he discusses is: "to be fruitful & multiply" (Gen. 1:28).
"There are 3 Partners in the creation of every child," the Rebbe writes. "Man & Woman form the body, while G-d Infuses the soul."



As the Rebbe proceeds to explain the body & soul's composition, all of a sudden he stops abruptly, as if wondering: 'Why get to know about the mystical implications of marriage and childbirth, when one basic, fundamental question is so perplexing that it has to be answered before moving forward:'

And that Q: is:
Why does the soul have to descend into a body in the 1st place!?

Perhaps you might say that it's in order to take pleasure in the world's glorious, physical bounty.
Like in the movie 'City of Angels,' where the angel (Nicolas Cage) wishes to experience physical life and its various experiences and pleasures.
This suggested hypothesis is rejected by the Rebbe with such amazing words, they haven't left me since reading them one night a few years ago in my yeshiva in New York:

'Before descending into this world, the soul basked in the radiance of G-d's Divine Presence...And even if a person lived a 1,000 years in total peace and tranquility,
living as a king over all kings, lacking absolutely nothing of the world's bountiful pleasures, in truth it wouldn't be worth even ONE moment of pleasure in the lowest levels of the spiritual worlds!...'
As it is said: "A single moment of bliss in the World to Come is greater than all of the present world." Wow.
Sorry for suggesting that idea. I guess it's back to the drawing board.
So... why the heck would G-d Send our souls into this kill-joy of a world?? Doesn't seem cool at all...

"G-d Is Good," the Rebbe assures us. Take a look at the 1st part of the above teaching:
"A single moment of repentance and good deeds in this world is greater than all of the World to Come."
But how can that be reconciled with the greatness of bliss in the next world??

And then comes the bombshell.

True, the pleasures of this world can't touch even a glimmer of the amazing pleasure the soul has above, level upon level of greater closeness to G-d.
Ahh, but ALL of these revelations of G-d above are finite, and are as nothing compared to what happens when one performs a single mitzvah in this physical world.
When one feels a moment of longing to come close to G-d.
Not only that, but "all of the possible levels of pleasure of the next world is like nothing compared to this revelation!"
For the revelation of G-dliness above is, at the end of the day, limited, whereas our deeds down here draw down an infinite level of G-dliness.

So in conclusion, the physical pleasures of this world are truly as nothing compared to one ounce of spiritual pleasure.
But our soul came down for a special purpose. To accomplish something of infinite proportions that it could never have dreamed of doing above.

May you have a Shabbat Shalom, and enjoy the physical pleasure of Wine and Challah!
For that too is a mitzvah!

-Daniel

World Cup in Chevron

B"H

The World Cup.
Nations from around the world gather to fight for the prized golden trophy the entire world covets.
Here in Mayanot Yeshiva in Jerusalem, we had a world cup of our own. Students from countries all over the world joined together for a special 8-day program we created during the summer break.
After many classes on Jewish Law and mysticism, as well as many trips and hikes, we wanted to finish with a special Shabbat experience that would never be forgotten. So we chose:
Chevron [Hebron].

A city saturated with meaning for our people.
Abraham & Sarah lived there. King David lived there.
In the center of town is a massive structure, built over a cave, called Me'arat Hamachpeilah - the doubled cave.



In that cave, down below, are buried none other than our Matriarchs Sarah, Rivkah and Leah (Rachel is buried in Beit Lechem - see Genesis 35:19 for more details on that)
and our Patriarchs Abraham, Issac and Jacob. Heck, even Adam & Eve are buried there!
[ed. note: Our Sages tell us that after being banished from the Garden of Eden, Adam & Eve one day arrived in Chevron and, sensing the feeling of the Garden of Eden there, decided to be buried there when they died. When Abraham later came to the cave where they were buried, he smelled the scent of Eden and decided to bury his wife Sarah there, and the rest is history.Tradition has it that Chevron is the gateway to the Garden of Eden...]

Here we would re-connect to our heritage in the very place where it all began nearly 4,000 years ago!
After an inspiring Fri. evening Shabbat service at the cave, we all gathered around a festive meal, where we sang and laughed, and discussed G-d, Judaism, life lessons & experiences. The inspiring stories told by the students who joined our program, about how each of them had ended up here, were all incredible.
One such story that really struck me, was told by a student named Alex.
While enjoying a short vacation in Israel before embarking on a vigorous semester of Grad. School at Johns Hopkins,
Alex somehow stumbled into our yeshiva. And this is how it happened:

"During WWII, my grandfather lived together with his cousin, who was a Partisan - a civilian resistance fighter against the Germans - who fought in the famous Bielski camp.
So while in Israel, I decided to visit Yad Vashem (the famous Holocaust museum in Jerusalem), in order to possibly find out more about his life story. When I gave his name over to the registry, I was actually printed a transcript detailing his entire account of his personal experiences during the holocaust!
What a treasure! But there was one catch... It was all in Yiddish! And I don't speak a word of it. What could I do?

I decided to find a Judaica store in Jerusalem; Perhaps they could help me. Upon hearing my request, the owner told me to try a Jewish library down the block. After asking for help in translation there, the librarian said that, while he knew Yiddish, I would need someone who properly knew English...
Directed to an English speaking yeshiva down a few blocks, I felt a bit frustrated. But to my surprise, when I arrived, the 1st person I saw was a friend from Baltimore standing at the door! After speaking a while, he connected me with a Chabad student who helped me for the next 2 days to translate the entire fascinating transcript. Once, during our conversation, he mentioned to me this 8-day program. Intrigued, I signed up, and here I am.
This program has been incredible. I've learned so many fascinating things about Judaism that I never knew about, in such a short amount of time.
I'm someone who didn't even know I was Jewish until I was 13 & saw all my friends having bar & bat mitzvahs and my Parents finally told me I was Jewish."

As I listened to Alex speak, together with all of the other students, each with his own special background and story, I began to feel a special unity, a special truth, pervade the room.
"Here we are 4,000 years later, Jews from all over the world, many celebrating their 1st Shabbat ever, together with our ancestors. Look how far we've come; disasters and war, assimilation and pogroms. 60 years after living and fighting in war torn Europe, a man's grandson, directed by Divine Providence, stands in Chevron in 2010 and re-connects to their shared heritage.
As Mark Twain once remarked: All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?”

May the amazing resurgence of Spiritual seeking and good deeds lead us to the ultimate World Cup Victory - one where the whole world wins - with the coming of Moshaich Now!

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

Completion

B"H

Marriage. What's so great about it anyways?
I mean, human nature would seem to point towards wanting to stay free of obligation, of responsibility.
A loving relationship - fine, but "marriage"? Who needs it?
According to mortal thinking, this is a good question. But Marriage is a Divine Institution, a Biblical Invention.



There was once One soul.

It was split, 2 halves descended to this world into two different places, pining to re-unite once again, to be complete.
This is the mystical source for a male & female's desire to find love.
When re-united, man & woman play 2 roles that complement one another - completing the other.
Even though we were once 1 soul, since we are now in bodies in a physical world with different lives and upbringings,
this bonding of course takes time and effort (unlike what Hollywood would like you to believe).
As it says in the Torah: "And (Issac) married her (Rebecca), and he loved her." 1st came marriage, then came true love.
A love that develops over time, with real caring and commitment to one another and their day to day needs and feelings.
Finding a mate based on a shared mission in life & family values, not just infatuation. This gives more chance for success.

Now we can better understand why so many of our parents are intent on us marrying Jewish. (Besides for the whole wiping out our future existence thing)
True, Judaism is the only religion that believes that every righteous person, Jew or NOT, has an equal portion in the world to come,
in heaven. But we also believe that the Jewish soul still has a different, unique role in this world. We are likened to the moon, chosen and appointed with the mission to reflect the "sun", to reflect God's Will in this world. When we accepted the Torah on Sinai, we accepted this role. And our souls forevermore reflect this change.

But it's very hard to feel distinct or unique nowadays in 2010. I dress the same, talk the same, listen to the same music as everyone else. So what makes me a Jew?
I'll A: this Question with another Q: (when Prime Minister Golda Meir was once asked "why do Jews always A: Q:'s w/ another Question?" She Answered: "Why not?")

Do you identify yourself as an American Jew? (with the emphasis on American) Or as a Jewish American?
If your answer is an American Jew, let me ask you: If you were born in France, would you still be an American? No.
But would you still be Jewish? Yes.
Now what if I asked you: What does it mean to be "Jewish"?
If your answer is "b/c I'm part of the Jewish People", that's like saying "I'm a tree b/c I'm part of a forest." But what are you?
If you'd answer that you're Jewish b/c of your beliefs, than what were you when you were born? Before beliefs?

Regardless of country of origin, before belief, a Jew's Essence is that he or she is a Jew. That is my essence, my soul.
Being Jewish isn't what I HAVE - it's what I am.
But until I find my soul mate with my soul's shared mission in life, I am only half.

Happy hunting for that soul mate of yours - may it come speedily if you so wish! And may the re-union of souls usher the world closer to the ultimate marriage,
of God and His People, Speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom!

Daniel
~For more on marriage, see: Soulmates~